So Scottsdale January 2019

Now
OUT
NEW TO DO
Welcome 2019 by taking up a fun hobby
Now that it’s a new year, you’ve got a fresh 365 days to fill with whatever
you choose, and what better way to get started than by trying a new hobby or
two? Whether you long to become a culinary master or want to spend some
time outdoors, there are plenty of creative pursuits to check out.
BY MANDY HOLMES
Earn Your Green Thumb
Grow your mind while you learn to grow desert
fauna at the Desert Landscape School, a program
at Desert Botanical Garden that offers six
certificate programs such as desert design and
sustainable desert landscapes. Most programs
consist of 20 hours of instruction that can be
completed in 11 to 12 weeks. Professional and
novice gardeners alike will plant and cultivate
new knowledge with the opportunity to learn
from experts about all aspects of desert landscaping,
earning a credential upon completion.
Class times and prices vary. www.dbg.org.
Take a Cooking Class
Sweet Basil Cooking School at Shea Boulevard
and Scottsdale Road offers classes led by
experienced chefs. Classes such as preparing
healthy desserts, making noodles of all kinds,
and how to cook Italian and French cuisines
are offered throughout the day, ranging in price
from $60 to $75 per lesson. The fun, hands-on
classes are taught in a relaxed atmosphere,
with no previous cooking experience required.
Attendees get to eat the prepared dishes at the
end of the session, plus take home a handful of
new recipes. www.sweetbasilgourmet.com.
Become a Barbecue Expert
Earn your grilling chops at a BBQ Island barbecuing
class. Taking place monthly, they are
geared toward education, frequently featuring
talented pitmasters such as Jess Pryles of
Hardcore Carnivore and BBQ Pit Wars judge
Moe “Big Moe” Cason. Classes are focused on
competition smoking barbecue, typically lasting
about three hours and varying in price from $40
to $200. Each session has its own style and
menu, and participants get to taste the fruits of
the pitmasters’ labor. www.bbqislandinc.com.
PHOTO BY G.I. PHOTOGRAPHY
Ride a Fat Bike
Sonoran Outdoor Adventures is the only company
that offers guided fat bike tours in the
Phoenix area. Fat bikes provide a great option
for exploring local trails and desert terrain
with the security of enhanced stability due
to the bikes’ larger tire size. If you prefer the
do-it-yourself approach, the company offers fat
bike rentals for individuals in addition to hiking
tours, corporate outings and after-dark bike
rides. www.sonoranoutdooradventures.com.
Get Crafty
Looking for new arts and crafts ideas? Paper
Source, located in Scottsdale Quarter, offers
weekly classes on new and trendy craft ideas
ranging from handmade greeting cards and origami
to rubber stamp art projects. If you can’t
make it to a scheduled class, not to worry –
you can throw a private event with five or more
of your friends. www.papersource.com.
Let the Good Times Roll
From beginners to pros, Bowlero in North
Scottsdale has plenty of sociable bowling
options. Whether you want to practice your
game, compete in a tournament, or just mingle,
there are both social clubs and leagues for
bowling alley fun. New bowlers can join an existing
group to meet new people, or team up with
friends and start their own. www.bowlero.com.
98 So Scottsdale! January ‘19